14: Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, and Graham King

THEATER OF OPERATIONS: It’s hard to imagine any Hollywood lineup that could come close to surpassing this informal triumvirate. Since his breakout film, Beetle Juice, in 1988, Burton’s gothic dreamscapes—think Dr. Seuss on acid—have brought in more than $3.4 billion at the global box office, making him one of this generation’s most successful filmmakers. The chameleon-like Depp—he plays eccentrics and hardened gangsters to equal effect—reigns as the industry’s biggest star. And producer King (Traffic, The Departed) blends a keen understanding of finance with a contact list rich in celebrity wattage.

TOGETHER AT LAST: Though Depp has starred in half a dozen Burton films and several King productions, the trio has yet to work together on the same movie. That will change with next year’s Dark Shadows, a horror tale based on the 1960s television show.

ON THE DOCKET: Burton is working on Frankenweenie, an animated movie based on his 1984 short film. Depp is starring in the October drama The Rum Diary (produced by King). Among the many other movies King currently has in the works: Angelina Jolie’s directorial debut, In the Land of Blood and Honey.

Since Beetle Juice, the director’s acid-trippy movies have raked in $3.4 billion at the box office.